Tag Archives: Williamsburg

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Hardly a day goes by without my thinking of New York. I miss it. I long for it. It was the first city I fell in love with. Looking through my photos, I’m awash with memories; I’m so glad I was given a camera to capture the city’s moments. New York always looked beautiful, never dull or boring. It’s Williamsburg that I really miss the most. I wonder if I will recognize it when I return.

Along a quiet stretch of N 10th Street in Williamsburg, between Roebling St and Union Ave, stands a bottle company.

Over a week ago, I noticed street artists painting different works along the factory’s side wall.

I’m always inspired by the dedication of streets artists given the impermanence of their medium. It was only a couple of days ago that I’d spotted the blemish of blue graffiti disrupting the red background on the work below. The next day, it was painted over and looked new again. (You might notice the damage to the left of the left wing)

Street artist, Gilf!, who painted the work above, coordinated a group of artists to paint these quirky works.

“I would like to affect major social and environmental change… Life is too short and the world too delicate to ignore the serious challenges we face as a global society,” she said earlier this year.*

Gilf! went to art school, focused on interior design, but turned to street art in 2008 as response to “being completely outraged by what was happening in the world.”

“I’m motived by all the apathetic, uninspired people. I want them to care. That’s why my work is on the street, approachable, and easy to understand.”

About the collection of works on N 10th street, she told Brooklyn Street Art recently: “It’s so rewarding to know that we’re positively influencing the community by doing what we love.”

Above: art by Veng (RWK).

Icy and Sot, from Iran, contributed the “Dream” work, above -an international dose of whimsy to an eclectic collection.

Above: art by Joe lurato

Below: art by Sophia Maldonado (enlarge the photo to see its details)

I mentioned in a previous post that Howard Truman’s quote speaks to how I describe Williamsburg, personified:

Don’t ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.

This outdoor art exhibition, and the artists behind the works, is a grand example of that.

Above: art by Cake.

It’s my hope that this community spirit will be strong enough survive the neighborhood’s rapid ascent.

Success is like reaching an important birthday and finding you’re exactly the same

~ Audrey Hepburn

Success, birthdays, change: I’ll take it all with a good dose of champagne, and an attitude that I’m forever young.

It took one look out of my window to notice the huge ball of orange fire that was setting behind the Williamsburg Bridge – camera in hand, I sprinted up to the rooftop to photograph the sunset. It was as if the fiery shades of red and gold were a nod to the Leo star sign.

Williamsburg Bridge is to the right, and downtown Manhattan with its 1 World Trade Centre – to the left.

Wading through the think humidity that weighs down on Williamsburg, there’s sweet relief in looking up. Up at the leaves that provide shade, listening to their rustle as a breeze runs through them; up at the grey cotton ball clouds, set in formation against the iridescent colours of a NYC dusk.

The days of New York summer are hot, humid, and sensuous; they tease with thunderclouds while wrapping you up in a steamy embrace.

(above) Empire State Building seen from East River

(below) a coconut Italian ice to make the humidity more palatable

(below) Williamsburg Bridge joins Brooklyn to Manhattan. 1 World Trade Centre to the right